PPS 9: The Enforcement of Planning ControlPreamble

The Department of the Environment is responsible for planning control in Northern Ireland.The Planning Service, an Agency within the Department, administers its planning functions.

The Department has a statutory duty, laid down in Article 3 of the Planning Order (NI) 1991, to formulate and co-ordinate policy for securing the orderly and consistent development of land and the planning of that development. The Department’s planning policies are normally issued through Planning Policy Statements and PPS 1 “General Principles” advises that:

‘Planning Policy Statements set out the policies of the Department on particular aspects of land-use planning and apply to the whole of Northern Ireland. Their contents will be taken into account in preparing development plans and are also material to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals.’

This Planning Policy Statement, PPS 9 “The Enforcement of Planning Control”, sets out the general policy approach that the department will follow in taking enforcement action against unauthorised development in Northern Ireland. It also provides advice on the Department’s approach to the enforcement of additional aspects of planning control over listed buildings, conservation areas, hazardous substances, trees and advertisements. Nothing in the Statement should be taken as condoning any breach of planning law.

This PPS is therefore of direct relevance to the public and those whose actions have a direct physical impact upon the natural or man-made environment, including landowners, developers, government departments and agencies, district councils, other statutory undertakers and conservation and voluntary organisations.